FAVORITES TAKE SIBLING VIRGINIA-RESTRICTED HANDICAPS IN CONTRASTING FASHION AT COLONIAL DOWNS
Posted on September 8th, 2026
Gramp’s Legacy took the $100,000 Bert Allen Handicap by 2½ lengths at Colonial on Sept. 5. (Photo credit: Coady Media)
Nick’s Notion was an easy winner in thew $100,000 Nellie Mae Handicap on Sept. 5 at Colonial Downs. (Photo credit: Coady Media).
NEW KENT, Va. (Sept. 5, 2026) — Favorites Nick’s Notion and Gramp’s Legacy captured Saturday’s sibling $100,000 Virginia-restricted overnight handicaps at Colonial Downs in contrasting fashion, with Nick’s Notion rallying from last to first in the Nellie Mae Cox and Gramp’s Legacy going gate to wire in the Bert Allen.
Eric Rizer’s Nick’s Notion swept past Day to Day late to win the $100,000 Nellie Mae Cox Handicap by 2½ lengths. Off slowly and last early, the Rob Bailes trainee swung outside under Forest Boyce and produced a strong closing kick to complete 1 1/16 miles over good turf in 1:41.54.
Day to Day took over after saving ground before settling for second, with Amie’s Symphony third. Nick’s Notion, who had missed by a neck in the All Brandy Stakes last out, paid $7.00, $3.60 and $2.60. The Maryland-bred 4-year-old improved her career record to 19-4-5-2 with earnings of $256,415
One race later, Tyler Sliney’s homebred Gramp’s Legacy controlled the $100,000 Bert Allen Handicap from the outset and drew off to defeat Se Thar Barr by 2½ lengths.
Johan Rosado put the Jeremiah O’Dwyer trainee on the lead from the start, and Gramp’s Legacy traveled comfortably before kicking clear in the stretch to finish 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.63. Se Thar Barr rallied for second, with Twain third.
The victory was Gramp’s Legacy’s third consecutive win at the Colonial meet. He paid $4.60, $3.60 and $2.80. The 3-year-old Virginia-bred improved his career record to 8-4-1-1 with earnings of $250,208.
Closing week at Colonial Downs continues Sunday with a 10-race program beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET. The 2026 meet concludes Monday with a six-pack of stakes on the Labor Day card, headlined by the Grade 3 $500,000 Old Dominion Derby. First post for the 11-race finale is 12 p.m. ET.
